I collect...

 CORKS!...but so do friends of mine FOR me...as I really hardly ever drink wine...just socially...so collecting on my own would be a hard slog, and a lengthy task...

 I have been meaning to craft something out of them...and have been collecting ideas...

 I love their history...where they're all from...they travel from every part of the World. South Africa,Austrailia,Europe,Chile,America...

 I love the different textures of cork used...the colours the wine has made the cork...

 One day I will make a LARGE Art installment for our dining room...

 BUT...until then...for you...

 carefully one by one...

a heart is born...

This post was inspired by KENZI over here and I was reminded by "K" from over here that I should be crafting SOMETHING out of them!!!

What do you collect??

Have a lovely Thursday...until tomorrow.
Char.x

BEYOND Bedding...

Happy Tuesdays fabulous readers!!...yes, I know...no Tell All Tuesdays this morning.

 This week has been crazy getting our Mamas and Chicks Show organised before my partner Cindy leaves to meet her adopted boy in China next week (SO excited for her!!!)

We're ALL sold out with the Show...which relieves SO much stress...you wouldn't believe the amount of worry goes through my head when we're scrambling for vendors the last month of the Show...which has only happened a couple of times...but anyway, I won't be worrying about it now!

So thinking of Cindy and her new baby I came across this BEAUTIFUL site which as it says in it's name "BEYOND BEDDING" carries the most amazing bedding, and accessories for children of all ages,even little cute outfits for toddlers...my jaw was dropping as I was browsing. The fabrics are stunning...

the colours are perfect...

the style is divine...

and the prices are extremely reasonable...

I mean...look how gorgeous these are!!

They even have teen bedding...and with a flat rate shipping cost of $7.95!!! WOW!

SPREAD the word...if you know of ANYONE who is having a baby,or is transitioning from baby crib to toddler...or a teen bedroom in need of a makeover...send them this link.

WEBSITE : BEYOND-BEDDING

AND...they even have a blog!

BEYOND Bedding BLOG

Anyway...I am amazed what we can buy and find on the internet...

Have you purchased anything on the internet recently worth telling your friends and family about?

Have a great afternoon.

HUGS

CHar.x

2 girls went a riding...

one on the back of a grey speckled horse...

with a silver mane and tail,

and the other on an elephant...

all dressed up for a party...

WHAT are YOU upto this weekend?

-we'll be enjoying a walk to the new Farmer's Market which is opening tomorrow-YAY- very excited about this! SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS!!!!!

-ballet lessons...last week before their recital

-RIBFEST in Bowmanville is on and my Mr.R's Band is playing again...so we'll be eating ribs and listening to Live music tomorrow afternoon!

-Sunday we're off to Kingston, ON...great outdoor markets(praying that the rain holds off)

-and promises to see Shrek 4 with the girls.

Signing out...have A WONDERFUL weekend!

HUGS

Char,ON

illustration Friday

hello fabulous readers...I have to catch up on what you've been up to today...it's been a crazy week of Birthdays. Yesterday Ashley was invited to another party...a very good school friend of hers had a pool party...I asked Olivia the other day what her favourite animal was...she said a dog.

she doesn't have a dog, but her uncle does...this is Boston.

he's a Boxer mix...I'm pleased with the composition of this one everything worked out and colour-wise too.

she's an adorable girl who we found out yesterday will be in the same class as little miss A next year too. Going from SK to Grade 1 can be a huge step...so having a best buddie in the same class makes me feel better about it all.(I know I'm sure little miss A isn't concerned at all-but she did request to be with Olivia)

this is my illustration for Friday...

our school has a PA Day today...which means no school today.

we're off to the park, the ART store(to pick up a canvas for a commission) and Toy store to spend their Birthday money(given to them by their grandparents here).

The girls are SUPER excited to be able to choose their own gifts. This year they hardly received any toys (which wasn't a bad thing!) so they have a whole list of what they would like!

I may be going to the U.K. to help out with my Mum after her double hip operation in July...I'll keep you updated...I'll still be blogging...but probably won't be running my Esty Store...so if there are any prints you would like ...thinking ahead to Summer Birthdays...stock up now as the shop will probably be closed for 3 weeks in July. I may even think about a SPECIAL promo code JUST for all you FAB readers!!

Also...custom originals are really very reasonable in price...just email me for a list of prices. If you by more than one, the price drops considerably.

Have a FABULOUS Friday!

HUGS

Char,ON

P is for PIG, Peas, Princess, Prince, Pink, Purple and Patterns...

this could be one of the letters which I'll enjoy most...the colours are pretty and it's all about faiytales.
We've been reading the Real Princess-A Mathemagical Tale by Juliet Stevenson,Brenda Williams and Sophie Fatus...it's has an storytime CD attached to the book which my girls thoroughly enjoyed.
Sophie Fatus has illustrated 10 books for Barefoot books writers...I love her work...I can't for the Life of me find a link to her website or blog to share though...

I know I am behind with my to-do's...but just taking each day as it comes...an artist can't cram in creativity if the feeling ain't there!
Have a glorious day...I know I will...it's open house at our girl's Ballet School...so we get to see our little Miss A and little miss J dance their hearts out...
Little Miss J said "Mummy, I promise to point really well..." so cute.

Char,ON

SUNDAY slippers...

these are definitely one of my most special gifts received from my sister Boo...she gives the best gifts...I received them for my Birthday a few years ago...I wear them when I need an energy boost.They're beautiful, British made, massaging, made with removable magnetic insoles to aid circulation and give you a soothing foot massage. (I have never removed them)...I take them to people's houses...so I have slippers to wear instead of bare feet- here in Canada it's polite to take shoes off at the door when you come in...I think because we have 4 months of Winter...obviously we don't wish to have wet, dirty floors...

the sketch was made first...

and then watercolours added...
did you know Cotman is no longer producing those little watercolour blocks...if ANYONE knows where I can buy some...PLEASE advise me. THANKS..

I have a website link for you for these FABULOUS slippers...they are a little pricey, BUT they have a SALE at the moment.
GO HERE to their online store...SUCH a wonderful gift for any Lady.

So...as I said I would tell you some more about FEBRUARY's projects...some of you will remember what I am talking about...and if you can't remember...check back TOMORROW,I know I'm a tease...but it'll be fun and challenging.
I'm still continuing wilh the ART for Haiti shoes...can I take it all on? Not sure, but I'll try.
ALL in the name of ART!

What are you planning for Feb??

Last February was FEB RED here at our Blog...it was fun...ALSO...I'd like to take you all back to this day last year...HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY BETH!!!!
UNTIL tomorrow...HaTSA MAnanA...A DOmain...FIn A DOMAni...til Imorgen...

Char,ON
P.S.Heading over to ESTY to list these slippers...

Wednesday's Birks...ART for HAITI

it snowed again!
YAY...we were almost sad to see the grass...and fortunately the outside temperature is still pretty mild...(for January that is!)
This morning I drew my favourite summer sandals (a quick 20 minute study)...some people across the World wear theirs ALL year round...with socks...I can't do that, it reminds me of when I lived in Mallorca,Spain and I'd be working in a resort area in the Winter months and certain Nationalities were in shorts and thier Birks with socks.
My dear sister bought me these (we have the same size shoe) about 6 years ago...LOVE them...

Worked on lots for our Mamas and Chicks Show last night...our next Show is April 16th...busy busy getting vendors and everything prepped regarding advertising etc.
AND been working on a LONG overdue Once Upon a Time painting which Jen won in Dec...I Know...but it's a very special one...and I had to watch the movie first...I'll post about it later today!

What have you been up to?

Oh Oh...look at the time...I have to go...the Gym is calling my name and then I'm volunteering up at Little Miss A's School...I love going in and seeing the dynamics of their classroom.

Gotta go...gotta go...
Birks drawing will be up on my Etsy later.

HUGS
Char,ON

high skies...

We finally are having brilliant skies here in the UK...finally! Look what we had yesterday...

And what we have today(see below)
It makes SUCH a huge difference, the day seems longer...people's moods are better...you can be outside longer with the girls...I hope we have more days like this!

We've been with Morton all morning, sister was delivering so he hung out with his cousins...he's adorable. SUCH an easy baby!

The girls have now eased into being here and have stopped saying "what can we do now?" every 5 seconds.

We have our morning walk out the the horses and feed them carrots. Little miss J isn't as comfortable with the horses as she was last year.Miss Ash is fine and loves stroking them and chatting to them.

They played in the Hay Stack all morning..."such a wonderful play castle" miss A said. It really is a great place for hiding go seek...or any type of make believe play. And then they chilled with their ever faithful leapster!

Funny how the outdoors can keep a couple of little girls ever so happy!

HUrrah, Hurrah! Tomorrow Tam comes for a visit with her little ones...can't wait to see her, chat and catch up...
I'll post some pictures in the evening tomorrow...I'll hopefully have better Internet connection as I'll baby-sitting up at sisters.

Have a lovely day and I'll be on again tomorrow.

Char,ON

Bunnies and fairies...

Slowly getting closer to actually painting this on the walls...we'll see...I had been working on it over the past few days and delivered it this afternoon.(hopefully it got there-I dropped off the originals in the client's mailbox-I know...I know...)

Here's the before...

And here's the after with colour...she loves rainbows and fairies, they also have a tabbie-cat.I'll be adding lots more butterflies and fairies flying from one mural to the next.

Here's the door mural, VERY excited about doing this one...I love the sweetness about everything in this one and all the fun the fairies are having in the tree and with the bunny. I hope they love this one too.

I will be using acrylics and hope to keep the colours more like the watercolour sketch I did above of the Bunny and Bird...

The client was going to call this evening, but that's probably not going to happen...so,I will be going for a run with my DH, my father in-law is listening out for the girls(still all quiet on that front-thank goodness!)

Oh...we went to one of the parks I promised the girls today too...another check off the long list of to do's.

Thanks for passing by...sorry I haven't been visiting recently.

I promise to make time tomorrow.

Have a good evening.

Char,Ontario

Sunday Watercolour...

It's boiling out...my DH took the girls over to a friends to play for a couple of hours so I could get this watercolour finished.
Prints will be up for grabs this week in my Etsy Store.
Want to know what I'm up to this week::

• Taxes
• Meet up with 2 clients for the murals (Fairies and Swamp/Meadow)
• Watercolour of a Whale
• Zoo (I promised the girls)
• Strawberry picking(if I don't go soon...there will be none left)
• Update Mamas and Chicks site
• Exploring 2 new parks (I promised the girls)
• Send Boo(my sister) and Olivia(my Niece) in the UK their Birthday gifts.
• Try to catch up with Shelly and Dale
• Clean house from top to bottom
• LOTS of Laundry
• Grocery shop
• Set up Mamas and chicks Blog
• Email vendors about Fish Friday at Club Carib
• Start my inspiration board

Do I think I'll get it all done? I hope so. The Taxes are going to take up all my evenings and lunches if the girls nap...but they have to be done, as my husband is waiting for figures.
It can sometimes be a little overwhelming, and I'm definitely not as good at writing lists as my DH is...but here is my effort, I hope it helps.

What do you have to get done this week???

I'll check in with you all later today...
Char,Ontario

Once Upon a Time...Dog

So many families have miniature Schnauzer's that I thought this would be a sweet subject for one of my Once Upon a Time series,especially as it's full of Spring colours.
I'll be posting it as well as the Monkey on Etsy later today.
Have a lovely day.
Charlotte,Ontario

The Giveaway Prize...

This is the Prize of my April 1st Giveaway...Carolina Elizabeth chose...Panda,with 2 girls and pinks and greens...
Congrats again Carolina!
Charlotte,Ontario

MARCHing into SPRING...

Spring is our new March theme...I'm so excited about all the new colours...thanks TAM!Hoping little Beth is doing well, you'll be able to go for Spring walks this month.
Let's hope it warms up here in Canada...I have to dash and pick up Ash...
Until tomorrow...
Charlotte, Ontario